The Mammoth Book of New CSI, by Nigel Cawthorne

This book reminded me so much of the sorts of books I read as a child (although more gory than those, of course) that it was a little disconcerting to have a case from one of those childhood books get mentioned in passing in the midst of discussing one of the cases in this book.

OJ is in here, as is the OK City bombing, and several other not-as-well-known cases. The discussion of the Jeffrey McDonald case was fascinating. There are several British cases I'd not heard of; not a surprise as this was published in England.

Quite enjoyable.

From the Kingdom of Memory: Reminiscences, by Elie Wiesel

I love Wiesel's words. The only problem with reading his books is that I don't want them to end. Even though this is a book of essays and speeches that were published decades ago, they remain telling and topical. After, nothing in history has changed--the Holocaust still destroyed his family--and, sadly, we still haven't learned how to stop hating.

I read this over the course of 7 months because I wanted to savor the words, listen to the stories of his childhood, and absorb the depth of each page. And now I'm done with it; perhaps I'll read it again....

Everything You Know About God is Wrong : The Disinformation Guide to Religion (part 1), edited by Russ Kick (on CD)

Well. Where to start?

Some of the essays included in this were interesting; in fact, most were thought-provoking and worthwhile. There were a couple though...whew. Oh my God (pun intended).
Paper tigers created? check
Facile arguments? check
Mispronounced words? check ("KapperNYAYum" for "Capernaum"? Really?)

I'm becoming increasingly annoying that when people argue about "Christians" or "religion" the Typical Christian/Religious Person is a completely unethical moron. Sure, there are moronic and amoral Christians, but there are a lot more of us who are neither.

The best essay is the longest, which is the summation of findings of the investigation into the Catholic diocese in Philadelphia around child sexual abuse. Absolutely the most disgusting, difficult thing I've ever listened to. It shook me to the core that the Church ignored this for decades and turned a blind eye to the destruction of children's souls.

The other very good essay is about the Magdalene Laundries in Ireland. Another case of the Church having a lot to answer for.

Short version: people suck, and power corrupts, inside as well as outside of religion.

What the Dog Saw : And Other Adventures, by Malcolm Gladwell (on CD)

Wow, fascinating essays about everything from birth control to economics to hair dye. The author was also the reader, and he has a lovely, calm voice. May have to find more of his stuff....

Hell is Other Parents, by Deborah Copaken Kogan

AWESOME funny!!!!

The Yellow Leaves : A Miscellany, by Frederick Buechner

Buechner is a fun writer, also quite intelligent, and obviously well-versed in biblical history. This book is a collection of stories, memoirs, essays, and poems, all jumbled together. I would have mixed the poems in to the prose parts, rather than keeping them segregated at the back, but that's a minor quibble.

I loved reading about his childhood and background, and the poems are up to his rigorous standard.

Please Don't Remain Calm : Provocations & Commentaries, by Michael Kinsley

A bit dated. Did not finish.

Grace (Eventually), by Anne Lamott (on CD)